ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
President's Secretariat
President of India Hosts King and Queen of Sweden; Says Both Countries can Work together on Programmes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Clean India and Smart Cities
Two Leaders Witness the Exchange of three Agreements/MoUs in the Fields of Polar Research, Science and Technology and Sea-Faring
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind received His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf and Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden at Rashtrapati Bhavan today . He also hosted a banquet in their honour.
Welcoming them to India, the President was happy to note that India-Sweden bilateral trade and investment relations are gaining strength. He said that India sees Sweden as a key partner in its Make in India, Start-up India, Clean India, Digital India and Smart City programmes. Swedish companies have made significant investment in India. There is potential for them to do a lot more, especially in clean technologies, circular economy, water partnership and next generation infrastructure. India’s growth and potential in the defence sector also presents significant opportunities for Swedish companies to manufacture in India for the domestic market and for exports. Health sector is another area of close cooperation. An impressive number of Indian companies have invested in Sweden especially in the areas of IT and technology solutions. He said that our economies complement each other and India-Sweden can work together to deepen their business and technology collaboration further.
The President said that our global partnership is as encouraging as our bilateral relationship. Both India and Sweden are committed to tackling climate change. Our co-leadership in the Industry Transition Track would be very helpful to the cause. He invited Sweden to join the International Solar Alliance. The President said that India is keen to engage with Sweden in the Arctic region.
Three agreements in the fields of polar research, science and technology and sea-faring were exchanged in the presence of the President and the Swedish King.
The winners of Children’s Climate Prize 2019 – Shri Vihaan and Shri Nav Agarwal also called on the President and the King of Sweden. Children’s Climate Prize was launched by Swedish electricity company Telge Energi in 2016 to highlight the issue of climate change. This prize is given to children or youth, aged 12-17, who have made extraordinary efforts for the climate and the environment.
Subsequently, in his banquet speech, President Kovind said that our innovation partnership holds tremendous potential. Our skills and our commitment can make us leaders of the 4th Industrial Revolution. We must, however, look beyond. The world of machine-intelligence must be accompanied by equity, for meeting basic needs of people, to protect our natural resources and to preserve our planet. India wants to engage with Sweden on circular economy, resource efficiency and climate-smart models. The President said that from Namami Gange to Jal Jeevan Mission and from Clean India to Smart Cities, India’s socio-economic programmes open several opportunities for both countries to work together.
Click here to see President Speech:
Ministry of Defence
ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY PAINTING COMPETITION
To enthuse the public at large towards the sacrifices and service rendered by the Indian Armed Forces, Kendriya Sainik Board organizes the Armed Forces Flag Day Painting Competition, through MyGov platform. The theme of the contest is ‘Tribute to Armed Forces Veterans'. Last date of submission of Art work is 30 Nov 2020 and its open to all.
Armed Forces Flag Day is observed on 7th December every year throughout the country to honour the men in uniform who safeguard the country against enemies, both at border and in the hinterland. On this day the services rendered by personnel of Army, Navy and Air Force are remembered. The red, deep blue and light blue colours of the flag represent the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, respectively.
For further details of competition, artists can visit https://www.mygov.in/task/art-competition-armed-forces-flag-day/
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Prime Minister's Office
Lt. Gen H. R. McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor calls on Prime Minister
Lt. Gen H. R. McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor calls on Prime Minister
Lt. Gen H. R. McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster conveyed the greetings of President Donald Trump to Prime Minister. Prime Minister recalled his positive telephonic conversations with President Trump that reaffirmed the importance attached by both sides to the strategic partnership and to stepping up India-U.S. engagement across the board.
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster shared his perspective with Prime Minister on the security situation in the extended region, including in Afghanistan, West Asia and the DPRK. During the conversation, they exchanged views on how both countries can work together to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and to advance regional peace, security and stability.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
FASTAG RELATED CHALLENGES
All fee plazas on National Highways are equipped with FASTag system except for following stretches, due to extremely low traffic :
Sundra Gunjangarh and Khuiyali plaza on Munabao- Tanot section of National Highway number 25E.
Garadiya, Sinhaniya and Doongri fee plazas on Gagariya- Baori Kalan- Serwa- Bakhasar section of National Highway number 925 and Sata-Gandhav section of National Highway number 925A.
Various measures have been undertaken by National Highways Authority of India from time-to-time to reduce/eliminate occurrence of any incorrect deduction via FASTag at user fee plazas. Some of the key measures undertaken are as under:
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• Penal action on defaulting bank/fee plaza operating agency/concessionaire.
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Mandate for implementation of Interface Control Document  at all fee plazas
on National Highways

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- To enable near-real time processing of FASTag transactions at fee plazas on National Highways
- Instant SMS to FASTag users on user fee transactions
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Service Level Agreement  parameters for issuer banks

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Provision to resolve customer complaints related to overcharging, double deduction, unauthorized transaction, etc. in a time-bound manner
In order to achieve 100% fee collection electronically at fee plazas, Government has declared all lanes of fee plazas on National Highways as FASTag Lane of the fee plaza w.e.f. midnight of 15th/16th February 2021. This has resulted in reduced waiting time and minimized queues at fee plazas.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Oththa Seruppu 7: A Solo act film’s one man show at IFFI
Releasing small films a challenge, need small
capsule theatres: Director R. Parthiban
Goa: November 23, 2019
Imagine one man doing the screenplay, direction, production and even distribution for a two hour long cinema. And what if he is the only one who can be seen on screen in the film. Welcome to Oththa Seruppu 7 , a Tamil solo act film by R. Parthiban which has piqued the interest of movie buffs at the 50th International Film Festival of India.
Attending a media conference at IFFI, R. Parthiban talked about his experimental film Oththa Seruppu 7. “Oththa Seruppu 7 is a murder mystery shot in just a 500 sq feet. It is inspired by a murder which happened in Tamil Nadu year ago, “ he said. The film also holds a record for a film written, directed and acted by one person.
The director also spoke about how it took him 15 years to get the courage to make a film like Oththa Seruppu 7. “ The sound plays a very important role in the film. Lot of characters are unseen and they are assumed only through sound. We got Resul Pookutty on board to ensure the film is technically sound”, he said.
Replying to questions, the versatile director said that the film also deals with rich-poor divide in the country and how the economy is adversely affecting the life of middle class people.
Recalling the difficulties faced to release such an experimental movie, R. Parthiban said that releasing small films is a big challenge everyone is facing now a days. “ No body is interested to fund this kind of small films. Government must build small capsule theatres to address this issue. Small films have to hold its ground amidst the roar and cry of huge commercial films. I am expecting some support from film festivals too”, he elaborated.
Backgrounder
OTHTHA SERUPPU SIZE 7
Directed by Radhakrishnan Parthiban the film is about the vast rich and poor divide and psychological stress everyone carries of the life lived so far. Masilamani, a middle aged security guard at a popular sports and recreation club in Chennai, is being questioned as a murder suspect while his terminally ill young son waits outside the investigation room. Masilamani’s strange tale, with moments of unexpected comedy and sudden displays of wit, leaves us questioning who really is he, what has he done and if he deserves the punishment that is staring him in the face.
Parthiban is an actor, writer, director and producer who has acted in over 60 films and directed 14. His film Pudhiya Paadhai  and Housefull  won the National Film Awards for Best Regional Film.
ED/NS/MR/BSN
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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Resumption of Television Audience Measurement Ratings for ‘News Genre’ by BARC
In the spirit of the TRP Committee Report and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India  recommendation dated 28.04.2020, M/s Broadcast Audience Research Council  has undertaken revision in its processes, protocols, oversight mechanism and initiated changes in governance structure etc. The reconstitution of the Board and the Technical Committee to allow for the induction of Independent Members have also been initiated by BARC. A permanent Oversight Committee has also been formed. The access protocols for data have been revamped and tightened.
BARC has indicated that in view of the changes undertaken by it, they are reaching out to related constituencies to explain the new proposals and are in readiness to actually commence the release as per the new protocols.
Taking note of the above, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has asked BARC to release the News ratings with immediate effect and also to release the last three months data, for the genre in a monthly format, for fair and equitable representation of true trends. As per the revised system, the reporting of News and Niche Genres shall be on a ‘four week rolling average concept’.
The Ministry has also set up a ‘Working Group’ under the chairmanship of the CEO, Prasar Bharti; for the consideration of leveraging the Return Path Data  capabilities for the use of TRP services, as also recommended by TRAI and the TRP Committee Report. The Committee shall submit its report in four months time.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Preparedness and response activities against biological emergencies
A total of 138 bio-safety laboratories have been set up across the country under the Department of Health Research ’s Scheme- Setting up of Nation-wide network of Laboratories for managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities 
All the biosafety laboratories specifically BSL-4 and BSL-3 established at ICMR and its network laboratories are trained in Biosafety laboratory operationalization
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides requisite guidance and logistic support to the States/UTs. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme through its State and District units conducts disease surveillance in the country through a decentralized State based surveillance system for epidemic prone diseases to detect the early warning signals, so that effective public health actions can be initiated in response to health challenges in the country.
For preparedness and response against health emergencies, the National Disaster Management Authority in 2008 has issued detailed guidance on management of biological disasters .
Further, National Disaster Management Authority has also issued and widely circulated National Disaster Management Plan 2019 which provides an all-hazard plan with clarification on roles and responsibilities for preparedness and response activities against biological emergencies.
As per the information received from the Department of Biotechnology , the DBT has notified a “List of Infective Microorganisms corresponding to different Risk Groups, 2021” which provides the list of Infective Microorganisms corresponding to different Risk Groups, which determine the operational practice and minimum physical containment requirements and accordingly, allows selection of appropriate biosafety level facilities. The list can be accessed from https://dbtindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/Updated%20Risk%20Group13122021.pdf .
Furthermore, 138 bio-safety laboratories have been set up across the country under the Department of Health Research ’s Scheme- Setting up of Nation-wide network of Laboratories for managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities . Indian Council of Medical Research  has a well-established laboratory infrastructure, to combat biosafety and biosecurity threats to the country, including apex lab at National Institute of Virology , Pune
DBT has notified the “Guidelines for the Establishment of containment facilities: BioSafety Level 2  & 3  and Certification of BSL-3 facility” and Regulations & Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Research and Biocontainment, 2017. The guidelines encompass biosafety standards laid by various international agencies. All the biosafety laboratories specifically BSL-4 and BSL-3 established at ICMR and its network laboratories are trained in Biosafety laboratory operationalization. The key scientific staff of ICMR-NIV, Pune has also been trained at Center for Disease Control and Prevention , USA in biosafety practices.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participates in 102nd meeting of the World Bank Development Committee Plenary
Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 102nd Meeting of the Development Committee Plenarythrough video conferencing here today.
The items on the agenda included Leaning Forward to Save Lives, Scale-up Impact and Get Back on Track: World Bank Group COVID-19 Crisis Response and Update Joint IMF-WBG Staff Note: Implementation and Extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative.
In her intervention at this session, Smt. Sitharamanstated that COVID -19 Pandemic which started before our last meeting in April, continues to impact the developing and developed countries till date and the hard fought gains in reducing the level of poverty, achieved over a number of years, are at great risk of being lost. The Governmentof India has taken several measures to contain the spread of pandemic, and also to mitigate its social and economic impact.
The Finance Minister shared that the Government has announced first stimulus of $23 billion to provide direct cash transfers and food security measures to poor. This was followed by special economic package of $ 271 Billion - equivalent to 10% of India’s GDP - based on a clarion call by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for AatmaNirbhar Bharat or Self-Reliant India. Measures have been announced to provide relief to the business, bring about major reforms in the labour sector by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalising 44 central labour laws, provide effective social protection to the migrant workers through National Portability of ration cards.Rural sector has been provided support by way of refinance support through NABARD, injection of additional liquidity of $27.13 Billion in the farm sector and by way of increased allocation for National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme .
Smt. Sitharaman also mentioned that Government has committed $2.03 Billion for strengthening of Health infrastructure in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Being a responsible member of global fraternity, India is ready to share its experience and also play a leading role in the South Asian region as part of its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
The Finance Ministerstated that collective action is the key for effective response to the pandemic and welcomed the strong performance in Q4 of FY 2020 wherein World Bank Group has committed $45 billion for COVID-19 response.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DPIIT and Ministry of Rural Development jointly launch ‘One District One Product’ Wall at SARAS Ajeevika Store
Collaboration to promote indigenous crafts and artisans of India
In a significant step towards promoting the indigenous crafts and artisans of India, One District One Product  program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade , Ministry of Commerce & Industry, launched its collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi. This strategic collaboration was unveiled with the inauguration of the ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Charanjit Singh and Director, DPIIT, Smt. Supriya Devasthali yesterday. The ODOP Wall at SARAS Aajeevika Store stands as a symbol of the harmonious partnership between these two vital ministries.
SARAS Aajeevika is an initiative by Deendayal Antyodaya , Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. SARAS Aajeevika is a strong supporter of women's empowerment, with a special focus on uplifting women artisans and Self-Help Groups . By creating a special marketplace for their well-crafted products, SARAS Aajeevika boosts the skills and talents of these women, helping them become independent entrepreneurs.
In a significant collaboration, the ODOP program has joined hands with the Ministry of Rural Development to implement innovative features such as product tagging and story cards. These additions aim to guide consumers and enthusiasts towards emporiums, thereby boosting sales and magnifying the visibility of India's exceptional products.
The ODOP initiative aims at manifesting the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to make the country and its people self-reliant by fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country. The program selects, brands, and promotes one unique product from each district, showcasing the diverse range of products across the country which encompasses various sectors, including handlooms and handicrafts. As part of its larger strategy to extend its reach and impact, ODOP continues to forge valuable collaborations with both governmental and private entities, in line with its mission to make India a self-sufficient hub of distinct craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Cabinet approves signing of the MoU between the India and South Africa for cooperation in Disability Sector
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved signing of the Memorandum of Understanding  between the Government of India and the Government of Republic of South Africa for cooperation in Disability Sector.
The bilateral Memorandum of Understanding will encourage cooperation between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of the Republic of India and Government of South Africa through joint initiatives in the disability sector. It will strengthen bilateral ties between India and South Africa. Specific proposals for cooperation between the two countries, as mutually agreed upon, will be taken up for implementation during the period of validity of the Memorandum of Understanding.
It envisages that Persons with Disabilities  at large and ageing population in both countries who especially require modern, scientific, durable, cost effective aids and assistive devices will be benefitted from this MoU.
India and South Africa share a long historical link and relations in the context of struggle for freedom and justice from the time Mahatma Gandhi started Satyagraha Movement in South Africa over a century ago. India was also at the forefront of the international community in its support to the anti-apartheid movement. Post independence, diplomatic relations with South Africa was restored in 1993 and thereafter, India and South Africa established a strategic partnership in March, 1997. Subsequently, there has been consolidation of our close and friendly ties with South Africa, both bilaterally and through BRICS, IBSA and other Forum. A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded between the two countries in diverse areas ranging from economic and commercial cooperation, defense, culture, heath, human settlements, public administration and science and technology. India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme  has been a useful medium of promoting cooperation in development of human resources. Bilateral cooperation between India and South Africa in combating COVID 19 Pandemic and addressing other global challenges have been notable. Various other Ministries/ Departments have also signed MoUs / Agreement for cooperation in their relevant sectors, which further illustrate deeper relationships with Government of South Africa.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India records 30K Daily New Cases for the second successive day
Daily Recoveries continuously exceed Daily COVID19 Cases since the last 1.5 months
India has been recording around 30,000 daily new cases for the last two consecutive days. 29,163 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The country has also seen less than 50,000 daily new cases being registered continuously for the past ten days.
While this signifies the wide adoption of COVID appropriate behaviour among the population, it also assumes significance in view of the high number of daily cases being continuously reported in many countries in Europe and the Americas.
The trend of new daily recoveries exceeding the daily new cases continues with 40,791 cases recovering in the last 24 hours against just 29,163 newly detected cases.
The Government continues to maintain a high level of countrywide testing. Total tests stand at 12,65,42,907 today. This has led to bringing down the cumulative positivity to 7.01%.
The Active Caseload which has now stands at 4,53,401 comprises just 5.11% of all cumulative cases.
The total recovered cases stand at 82,90,370. With this, the Recovery Rate has improved to 93.42% today.
72.87% of the recovered cases reported in the last 24 hours are from ten States/UTs.
Kerala saw the greatest number of recoveries as 6,567 confirmed cases tested negative. West Bengal registered 4,376 daily recoveries while Delhi reported another 3,560 of them.
75.14%of the new cases have been reported from ten states/UTs
Delhi which saw a surge in new cases over the last few days reported only 3,797 new cases yesterday, followed by West Bengal which reported 3,012 new cases. Kerala recorded 2,710 new cases.
78.40% of the 449 new deaths are concentrated in ten States/UTs.
More than a fifth, 22.76% of new fatalities reported are from Delhi which reported 99 deaths. Maharashtra reported 60 fatalities, followed by West Bengal .